Switch-stand



(No Model.)

J. T. HAMBAY.

SWITCH STAND.

m? w' .5 ATTORN ZY.

Patentqd Aug. 25, 1885.

N. PETERS. PhMo-Lfllwgmplmr, Washinglun. n c.

Urrnn dramas PATENT @rnrc t JAD'IES T. HAMPAY, OF .PITTSBURG, PENNSYIJVANL-k.

SWlTCH-STAND.

FBPYECIEIGA'I'IOII forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,838, dated August 25, 1855,

Application tiled February 5, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. I'IAMBAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switclr Stands, of which improvements the following 1s a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved doublesemaphore switch-stand. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the signal-operating mechanism.

My invention relates to an improvement in signal mechanism for switches and crossings, and has for its object the setting and locking of the signals at tacingpointswitches in proper positions to indicate the intended adjustment of the switch-rails prior to such adjustment, and for-simultaneous setting of danger and safety signals at railroad crossings and to these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The switch stand consists of a suitablyiormed base-plate, 1, provided with legs or uprights 2, on which is formed or secured the circular plate 3. On this circular plate, at one side of its center, is formed the vertical lug 4, said lug being provided at its upper end with the block 5, said block projecting inwardly over the center of the plate 3, and being provided with a socket in its upper side f or the reception of the post or pillar 6, extending a considerable distance above the main portion of the stand.

To the post 6 are secured at dillerent heights the brackets 7 on which are supported the lanterns 8, and to the post or pillar are pivoted the semaphores 9 and 10, of the usual construetion, the pivoted points of such semaphores being located in or planes passing adjacent to horizontal through the center of the illuminating A apertures 01 the lanterns. (See Fig. 1.)

To the semaphores adjacent to their pivotal points are attached rods 11 and 12, the lower ends of said rods being connected to one of the arms of each of the bell-crank levers 13 and 14, which are pivoted to a common pivot secured to a lateral projection on the block 5. (See Fig. 2.) In the opposite ends of there bell-crank levers are formed the connected slots 15 and 16, arranged at right angles to each, the slots 15 being parallel to the opposite arms of the bell-crank levers, and having a length approximately equal to half the movementof the sliding block 17. This sliding block is provided on its upper side with flanged lugs 18, constructed to fit in suitable ways, 19, formed on the under side of the overhanging block 5. On one side of the sliding block 17 is formed the upwardly-projecting lug 20, provided with a pin, 21, projecting into and adapted to engage the slots 15 and 16 in the bellcrank levers l3 and 14.

In the under side of the block 17 is formed a circular groove for the reception of the short end of the switch and signal operating lever 22, said lever being pivoted to the head-block 23, secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft 24, mounted in the lower or main por tion of the stand.

On the lever 22, in the rear of its pivotal point, is formed a lug, 25, adapted in certain positions of the lever and hcadblock to rest upon the plate 3 near its periphery, thereby holding the lever in a horizontal position.

In the plate 3 are Formed slots 26, (shown in dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 8,) said slots being located in the plane of movement of the sliding block 17, and constructed, when the lever 22 is turned into such plane on either side of the stand, to receive the lug 25 and permit of the lever 22 being turned down into a vertical position, as shown in the several views; and in line with the slots 26 are notches for the reception ofthe handle part of the lever 22 when turned down, thereby preventing any rotation of the l1ead-block until the lower is turned up into a horizontal position.

The lower end of the vertical sl1at't2 t is provided with a crank-arm, 27, or any other suitable means for connection with the switchrails, whereby said rails may be operated by the rotation of the vertical shaft 24-.

It will be observed thatthe slots 16, or what may be termed the operative slots, in the bell-cranl lcvers 13 and 14-as the bell-cranks are moved only when the pin 21 is in said to safety, but both cannot be brought to safety at the same time.

In describing the operation I will start with the mainlineopen, the upper semaphorebeing inclined downward, indicating safety, and the lower semaphore standing at right angles tothe signal-post, indicating danger, all as fully shown in Fig. 1. When the semaphores are in this position the pin 21, connected to the sliding block 17, is located in the operating slot of the bell-crank 13 of the upper or main-line semaphore, and is also at the end ofthe horizontal slot 16, of the lower or switchsemaphore bell-crank 14:. Upon raising the handle of lever 22, preparatory to setting the switch, the sliding block 17, and pin 21 connected thereto, are moved inward by the short end of the lever 22. As the pin 21 is moved inward it engages the inner wall of the slot 16 in the bell-crank 13, and turns said crank until its upper arm assumes a horizontal position,

. and its slot 15 lies in the path of the movement stated.

of the pin 21. During the above operation of the crank 13 this pin 21 has been moving along the slot 16 in the crank 14., thus holding said crank and its semaphore stationary, and

as the lever 22 assumes a horizontal position the pin 21 enters the slot 16 of the crank 13 and moves out of line with the pivotal point of said bell-crank, thus locking it and its semaphore, which has been turned to danger by the movement of the pin and crank above The movement thus far impartedto the block 17 and pin 21 has been sufficient to move said pin about midway of the slots 16 in both bellcranks, and thus lock both of said cranks and both semaphores at danger. The lever 22 is now turned around horizontally one hundred and eighty degrees, thus turning the vertical shaft 24:, and shifting the switch-rails so as to open the switch and close the main line. During this horizontal movement of the lever it is held in a horizontal position by the lug 25, resting upon the plate 3. \Vhen the lever has been turned around so as to bring it in line with the slot and notch on the opposite side of the plate, it is turned down, thus pulling the block 17 toward the left in Fig. 3. As the block moves to the left, the pin moves along the slots 16 in the bell-cranks 13 and 14; but as this movement of the pin is at an angle to the crank-arm, or to the radii of the circle described by said arm in its movement, the crank-arm 13 is V firmly locked as soon as the pin enters the long slot. \Vhile the pin 21 is moving along the slot 15 in the bell'crank 13 away from the radial-slot 16, it is moving along the corresponding slot in the bell-crank 14 toward the radial slot therein, and just before the block 17 reaches the limit of its movement the pin 21, striking the outer wall of the radial slot in the bell-crank 14, will cause said crank to turn on its pivot, thereby bringing the radial slot into the line of movement of the pin, which will, on the completion of the movement, enter the radial slot andlock the switchsemaphore at safety. \Vhen the main line is to be opened, the above movements are reversed, both signals being first thrown to danger and locked, the switch-rails shifted, and the main line signal set to safety and locked.

A stand provided with the semaphores and their operating mechanism, the former being arranged at right angles to each other, may

be located at the intersection of two main lines, one of the semaphores being arranged at right angles to one of the intersecting lines, and the other semaphore similarly disposed with relation to the other line. When employed for intersecting lines, the switch-operating mechanism is omitted. In some instances I propose to connect a distant mainline signal with the crank operating the home main-line signal, and also when the apparatus is employed for intersecting lines to connect distant signals with the bell-cranks of both home-signals, thus providing a more perfect guard for switches and crossings.

v I claim herein as my-invention 1. In a signal mechanism, the combination of two semaphores or other signals, a reciprocating block or slide, and independent signaloperating mechanisms, each engaging said block and adapted in a single movement of the block to shift one of said signals from danger to safety and the other from safety to danger, and to lock the signals in such changed positions, substantially as set forth.

2. In a signal mechanism, the combination of two semaphores or other signals, one of which is normally locked at danger and the other at safety, a reciprocating block or slide, and independent signal-operating mechanisms, each engaging said block and adapted on a single movement of the slide to reverse the positions of the signals and lock them in such reversed positions, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch and signal mechanism, a rotating switch stem or shaft,in combination with a lever pivoted to said shaft and adapted to lock the shaft as against rotary motion, and two semaphores or other signals, one of which is normally at danger and the other at safety, adapted to be reversed and locked in reversed positions by the locking and unlocking movements of the lever, substantially as set forth.

4. In a switch and signal mechanism, a 1'0 tating switch stem or shaft, in combination with a lever pivoted to said shaft and adapted to lock said shaft as against rotary motion, two semaphores or other signals and suitable connecting mechanism, whereby the unlocking movement of the lever will set both signals at danger, and the locking movement will set one signal at safety and lock the other at danger, substantially as set forth.

5. In a switch and signal mechanism, a rotating switch stem or shaft, in combination with a lever pivoted to said shaft and adapted to lock the shaft as against rotary motion, two semaphores or other signals, and suitable conneetions between the lever and signals,whereby said signals are set and held at danger by the unlocking of the lever and during the shifting of the switch-rails, and are set and locked in such positions as indicate the position of the switch-rails by the locking movement of the operating-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. In a signal mechanism, the combination of two main-line signals and a switclrsignal, and reciprocating block and suitable connections. between the block and signals, whereby said signals may be operated by a single move ment of the block, so as to indicate the condition of the main line and switch, substantially as set forth.

7. In a signal mechanism, the combination of two semaphores connected to two bell-crank levers, each having one of their ends slotted, as described, and a reciprocating block provided with a pin adapted to engage the slots in both bell-cranks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES '1. HAMBAY. Vitnesses:

- DARWIN S. WoLcoT'r, R. H. WHITTLnsEY. 

